Golf training glove and method

ABSTRACT

A golf glove includes a palm section having attached thereto a thumb sleeve, an index finger sleeve, a middle finger sleeve, a ring finger sleeve and a baby finger sleeve. Partial connections are made between the thumb finger sleeve and the palm section, the middle finger sleeve and ring finger and the index finger sleeve and the middle finger sleeve allowing the glove to serve as a golf swing training aid.

BACKGROUND

All golf gloves are made to protect the skin from calluses and skinabrasions caused by friction while swinging the golf club. It is normalfor right-handed golfers to wear a single glove on their left or weakerhand as it is the same for left-handed golfers to wear a glove forprotection on their right hand. The majority of golfers wear a glove butrarely do they have a reason to wear two gloves at the same time.

Numerous books and instructional materials attempt to provideinstruction to the average golfer on the proper techniques of the golfswing. To date there is not one anatomically correct training aid thatwill force the golfer not only to learn the right grip position but alsoto execute the proper swing by eliminating the number one cause of poorgolf shots; namely, the over use of hands and the arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a left hand glove.

FIG. 2 depicts a right hand glove.

FIG. 3 depicts a pair of hands wearing the gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2 in atypical golf grip shown in a first, bottom view.

FIG. 4 depicts a pair of hands wearing the gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2 in atypical golf grip shown in a second, front view.

FIG. 5 depicts a pair of hands wearing the gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2 in atypical golf grip shown in a third, side view.

FIG. 6 depicts a proper swing position aided by the use of the glovesdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 depict a first embodiment of a golf glove 100, 200 inaccordance with the technology.

As is generally understood, each human hand generally has a thumb orfirst finger, an index or second finger, a middle or third finger, aring or fourth finger and a baby or fifth finger. The thumb includes atip segment, (the distal phalanges), a base segment (the proximalphalanges), a top knuckle separating the distal phalanges and theproximal phalanges, and a base knuckle separating the proximal phalangesand the metacarpal bone. The other fingers each include a tip segment(the distal phalanges), a middle segment (the intermediate phalanges), abase segment (the proximal phalanges), a top knuckle (the proximalinterphalangeal joint) separating the distal phalanges and theintermediate phalanges, a middle knuckle (the distal interphalangealjoint) separating the intermediate phalanges and the proximal phalangesand a bottom knuckle separating the proximal phalanges and metacarpalbone.

What follows is a description of the gloves relating to a right-handedplayer. Identical statements apply to the gloves relating to aleft-handed player, only in reverse.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a left handed glove, and a right hand glove,respectively. Generally, a right handed player uses a glove on the lefthand and vice-versa. The present gloves are meant to be usedindividually with a right handed player wearing a left hand glove, andvice-versa or both worn together for either type of player. As to aright-handed player, the left hand glove 100 has four (4) fingers 102,104, 106, 108, and one thumb 110, individual ones which are attachedtogether through stitching. The glove includes an opening 135 thoughwhich a human hand enters the glove and a closure flap 130, secured byVelcro or other fastening means. This attachment may be performedthrough various means, including by stitching a conventional pair ofgolf gloves commercially available at any sporting goods store.

In FIG. 1, the left thumb 110 is attached to the index finger 108 by, inone embodiment, sewing the glove index finger 108 and thumb 110 togetherto a point above the top knuckle of the thumb. In addition, the middlefinger 106 and ring finger 104 of the glove are connected to a pointadjacent to or above the top knuckle of each respective finger.

The reason for this stitching is that with the stitching, the gloveforces the left hand to grip the club with the fingers attached to eachother so that the left hand, wrist and arm are at a deficit (weakerstate) of manipulation. When the fingers are stitched together in thismanner, the strongest muscles in the arm cannot activate. This stitchingalso forces a short thumb position resulting in the left thumb sitting,mechanically, in a more sound position to execute the golf swing. Theresult is that the left hand has the limited capability of manipulationthrough strength, thereby forcing the left hand and left arm to connectto the larger muscles of the body as a result of this weakness.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right hand glove has the exact same fingersattached and for the same reasons. This attachment may be performedthrough various means, including by stitching a conventional pair ofgolf gloves commercially available at any sporting goods store.

Through empirical study, it is believed that the importance of the righthand is far greater than the left hand to a golfer with a right-handedswing. Because the right hand and right arm hinge twice the amount ofthe left hand and left arm, for the same reasons stated above withrespect to weakening the left hand, we need to have the least amount ofstrength in the right hand. If the fingers of the right hand areseparated during the golf swing, the right hand and arm will not be ableto attach to the torso correctly through the hinge work; thus the largermuscles of the body will be eliminated from the golf swing. With thefingers of the right golf glove stitched together as in the glovedisclosed herein, the right hand during a right-handed swing isweakened, forcing the right wrist, elbow and hand to hinge upward,allowing the right hand to work correctly on the takeaway and forcingthe larger muscles of the body to be engaged in the golf swing.

With both gloves on the hands, the hands and arms are at a deficit ofpower thereby forcing the bigger muscles of the body to swing the golfclub in both directions. With the bigger muscles of the body engaged,much more club head speed is generated and the golf club is delivered tothe ball through a body rotation that produces a far more accurate wayof executing a sound, repetitive golf swing.

It has always been an instinctual response of a human to use one's handand arms to engage in an activity of the body unless the brain and bodylearn something new. It is not good enough to instruct one to limit theengagement of hands and arms when it comes to any hitting or throwingmotion because we do so much with the hands and the arms. For example,when we are young, learning how to throw a ball, we have absolutely nocontrol over the direction of the throw because we are so focused onholding on to the ball with our hands.

When the golfer is forced to have very little control of his/her handsand arms during the swinging motion of the golf swing, he/she is, infact, being taught a new set of skills that may be easy to understandbut very difficult to feel. With the gloves disclosed herein, the golferis forced to have the proper grip, hinge work, grip pressure and plane.These aspects of the golf swing are the most difficult aspects to teacha golfer without having the golfer engaged with these training tools(i.e. the golf gloves described herein), thereby allowing the golfer tounderstand through feel what it is he/she is doing. The proper grip,hinge work, grip pressure and plane produced by the golf glovesdescribed herein is the answer to better golf and more importantly thekey to having the most sustainable swing in golf since these aspects ofthe golf swing allow the core muscles of the body to engage and producea far more accurate and predictable golf swing. Unlike the hands andarms, the core (larger) body muscles are too large to twitch and therebynegate predictability of the golf swing. Weakening the hands and arms asthese golf gloves do allows the larger body muscles to engage andproduce more predictability in the golf swing.

When the golfer is taught through using the golf gloves described hereinthe proper grip pressure throughout the entire golf swing, he/she isintroduced to the physics common to affecting performance in all of thehitting and throwing sports. The reasoning is simple and straightforward: there are many changes of centrifugal to centripetal force inall of the hitting and throwing sports. If a golfer holds a golf clubwith an incorrect grip, including a firm grip, the more he/she isforcing the smaller muscles (hands and arms) to hit the golf ball,leaving the golfer with no chance of having a repetitive, predictablegolf swing. However, if the golfer is wearing the gloves of the presenttechnology, the golfer is forced into the proper grip position andpressure, thereby allowing the golfer to execute the proper golf swingby executing the proper takeaway position, downswing and follow through.

FIG. 6 illustrates the proper position of the hands in the back-swing ofa right-handed swinging golfer.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the gloves force the hands into the perfectgrip position on the golf club, including the perfect “V” positionformed by the thumb and index finger. The gloves reduce the pressure oneis able to exert on the club, thereby making the swing more consistent.

It will be recognized that there are numerous variations available inthe construction of the gloves. For example, the finger attachmentportions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be accomplished by various means,including but not limited to thermally joining the fingers, securing thefingers together with an adhesive, surrounding the fingers with tape tojoin the fingers together at the desired lengths, or forming the fingerstogether so that two fingers engage each other in a single pocket.

It will be further recognized that the glove has applications in sportsbeyond golfing. The glove may be used with any racquet sport such astennis, squash or racquet ball. The glove may be used as a warm-up toolfor thrown ball sports such as baseball and softball, and isparticularly useful for warming up pitchers and as a training tool forhitters. In each application, the weakening of the hands results in theindividual directing more energy to the large muscle groups of theactivity and toward more repeatable motions for the activity.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

1. A golf glove, comprising: a palm section having attached thereto athumb sleeve, an index finger sleeve, a middle finger sleeve, a ringfinger sleeve and a baby finger sleeve, each sleeve having a baseattached to the palm section and a tip wherein: the thumb finger sleeveis attached to the palm section from the base of the thumb finger sleeveto point at least adjacent to a knuckle of the thumb; and the middlefinger sleeve and ring finger sleeve are attached together from eachrespective base to a point at least adjacent to a top knuckle of thering finger; and the index finger sleeve and the middle finger sleeveare attached together from teach respective base to a point below aknuckle of the index finger.
 2. The golf glove of claim 1 wherein eachrespective sleeve is attached by glue.
 3. The golf glove of claim 1wherein each respective sleeve is attached by stitching.
 4. A pair ofgolf gloves, comprising: a left hand glove including a palm sectionhaving attached thereto a left thumb sleeve, an left index fingersleeve, a left middle finger sleeve, a left ring finger sleeve and aleft baby finger sleeve, each sleeve having a base attached to the palmsection and a tip wherein: the left thumb finger sleeve is attached tothe palm section from the base of the left thumb finger sleeve to pointat least adjacent to a knuckle of the left thumb; and the left middlefinger sleeve and left ring finger sleeve are attached together fromeach respective base to a point at least adjacent to a top knuckle ofthe left ring finger; and the left index finger sleeve and the leftmiddle finger sleeve are attached together from teach respective base toa point below a knuckle of the left index finger. a right hand gloveincluding a palm section having attached thereto a right thumb sleeve,an right index finger sleeve, a right middle finger sleeve, a right ringfinger sleeve and a right baby finger sleeve, each sleeve having a baseattached to the palm section and a tip wherein: the right thumb fingersleeve is attached to the palm section from the base of the right thumbfinger sleeve to point at least adjacent to a knuckle of the thumb; andthe right middle finger sleeve and right ring finger sleeve are attachedtogether from each respective base to a point at least adjacent to a topknuckle of the right ring finger; and the right index finger sleeve andthe right middle finger sleeve are attached together from eachrespective base to a point below a knuckle of the right index finger. 5.The golf glove of claim 4 wherein each respective sleeve is attached bystitching.
 6. A golf glove, comprising: a palm section having attachedthereto a thumb sleeve, an index finger sleeve, a middle finger sleeve,a ring finger sleeve and a baby finger sleeve, each sleeve having a baseattached to the palm section and a tip wherein: a first partialconnection between the thumb finger sleeve and the palm section limitingrange of movement of a human thumb when positioned in the thumb sleeve.a second partial connection between the middle finger sleeve and ringfinger sleeve limiting respective movement of a human middle finger andhuman ring finger when the human middle finger is positioned in themiddle finger sleeve and the human ring finger is positioned in themiddle finger sleeve; and a third partial connection between the indexfinger sleeve and the middle finger sleeve.
 7. The glove of claim 6wherein the first partial connection comprises an attachment between thethumb finger sleeve and the palm section from the base of the thumbfinger sleeve to point at least adjacent to a knuckle of the thumb. 8.The glove of claim 6 wherein the second partial connection comprises anattachment between the middle finger sleeve and ring finger sleevebetween each respective base to a point at least adjacent to a topknuckle of the ring finger.
 9. The glove of claim 6 wherein the thirdpartial connection comprises an attachment between the index fingersleeve and the middle finger sleeve from teach respective base to apoint below a knuckle of the index finger.